Breakthrough: An Aberration

Seeing the Soul Spirit Orb in Xu Mengqing's hand, with the Diamond Vine Spirit Soul lying quietly within it, Meng Ling'er and Na'er both leaned closer, curiously examining the strange vine with its thick stem and leaves patterned with dark gold. Though separated by the Soul Spirit Orb, they could vaguely sense its resilient, razor-sharp aura.

"It looks really sturdy." Meng Ling'er smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah~" Na'er agreed.

"All right, Xiaoqing, hurry and absorb it! Let's see what Spirit Skill you get." Xu Zhan said with a smile.

"Mm!" Xu Mengqing nodded vigorously.

Without further delay, he cradled the Soul Spirit Orb and headed straight for the center of the Blue Silver Grass Bagua Formation in the backyard.

The moment he stepped into the Bagua Formation, Xu Mengqing felt a rich life force surge toward him like warm, gentle tides. Every Blue Silver Grass plant within the formation seemed to sense his intentions. The pale blue glow flowing over their leaves grew brighter, and the blades rustled without wind, as though cheering him on.

He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the bluestone slab at the formation's core, and steadily placed the Soul Spirit Orb before him.

He opened the Soul Spirit Orb and reached his hand inside, gently touching the tiny Spirit Soul. Spirit Souls themselves were not physical entities, especially low-level ones like this.

His fingers easily passed through the Diamond Vine's body. It seemed to sense something and curled back upon itself. Though it was only an illusory form, it wrapped around Xu Mengqing's fingers, and a feeling of closeness reached him.

"Let's begin."

After taking a deep breath, Xu Mengqing turned his palm over. Guided by his thoughts, the gentle Soul Power within his body began to move, and Blue Silver Grass shimmering with a faint blue halo slowly emerged from his palm.

Perhaps driven by instinct, the Diamond Vine immediately sensed the Blue Silver Grass. It climbed along Xu Mengqing's fingers and quickly reached the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in his hand.

The Blue Silver Grass's originally gentle glow instantly intensified, transforming into streaks of blue light that twined upward. At the same time, the Diamond Vine gave off a faint dark golden radiance, the two reflecting each other.

This was Xu Mengqing's first time fusing with a Spirit Soul. However, Lin Ximeng had long taught them in class about the precautions for fusing Spirit Souls and the sensations after fusion.

A faint thought entered Xu Mengqing's mind, carrying a mixture of closeness, fear, and utter dependence.

Xu Mengqing opened his heart and accepted it. Immediately, the Blue Silver Grass in his palm began changing rapidly, while the Soul Power within his body surged in response.

The Diamond Vine wriggled slightly in his palm. Other than that initial thought, it transmitted no further emotions.

This was how the lowest-tier Spirit Souls behaved. The stronger a Spirit Soul was, the greater its intelligence. Spirit Souls above Purple rank could even communicate with their hosts. Legend had it that Spirit Souls of even higher levels could directly help their hosts fight.

Not to mention plant-type Spirit Beasts like the Diamond Vine, which possessed little more than the instinct to seek advantage and avoid danger.

The Diamond Vine's dark gold gradually took on a hint of blue, while the Blue Silver Grass in his palm rapidly grew and began changing shape as well.

The originally fragile grass blades curled inward, gradually becoming finger-thick and vine-like. Patterns similar to those on the Diamond Vine appeared across them. Their stems grew sturdier, their leaves broader, and their resilience increased enormously, while the Soul Power within his body churned in response.

The Diamond Vine's form also became increasingly solid, growing slightly longer and thicker. A touch of blue appeared along its stems and leaves as well. The fusion was proceeding smoothly.

The Diamond Vine's Spiritual Power was far too weak to offer any resistance. Coupled with the life force emanating from Xu Mengqing's Blue Silver Grass, Xu Mengqing held complete control throughout the fusion.

Strands of Blue Silver Grass continued to lengthen, turning into vines that coiled around his body.

The Blue Silver Grass within the Blue Silver Bagua Formation seemed to sense Xu Mengqing's condition and began emitting faint blue light as well.

A great amount of heaven and earth energy was drawn toward Xu Mengqing.

Xu Mengqing's Soul Power fluctuations also became intense. A crack quietly opened in the bottleneck he had only just reached, and Soul Power surged forth, breaking through the barrier amid the Martial Soul Evolution.

Xu Mengqing felt his entire body grow light. The clump of Soul Power gathered in his dantian instantly turned into countless threads that spread through every corner of his body. Every cell seemed to awaken in that instant, brimming with vitality. The lightness and comfort finally eased much of the gloom weighing on his chest.

Just then, Xu Mengqing suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

His consciousness seemed to sink into a warm ocean, and everything around him became blurred and distant.

Xu Mengqing's soul suddenly seemed to be pulled by an invisible force. The darkness before him was abruptly torn apart, and in the next instant, his mind fell into a hazy yet strange white space.

Countless specks of light filled this space, stretching beyond sight. Yet his gaze somehow seemed able to reach every corner of it.

Xu Mengqing's consciousness gradually cleared. The floating motes of light slowly descended, gathering into a pale golden ocean below.

At this moment, his form was condensed from Spiritual Power, and his body floated in the air like a ghost.

Uh...

Where was this?

I... did I... die again?

Xu Mengqing looked around in a daze, but his attention was soon drawn to something else.

It was a pearl, hanging high in the air like the sun and radiating dazzling light.

What was that?

But... it felt so warm...

As the light shone upon him, Xu Mengqing felt warmth spread through his entire body, as if he were wrapped in a hot spring. The fear that had arisen within him unconsciously faded somewhat.

Then, the golden pearl seemed to sense Xu Mengqing's arrival. In an instant, it erupted with boundless golden light, so blinding that he could not open his eyes.

As the light gradually faded, the phantom of an enormous golden dragon spiraled into view.

The dragon's body was sinuous and vigorous. Its head resembled a camel's, its horns a deer's, and its eyes glittered like precious pearls. Long whiskers drifted beneath its jaw, while dragon whiskers lifted softly at the corners of its mouth.

Its entire body was covered in layers of dense golden scales that shone with a lustrous gleam. It moved with the supple grace of a long serpent, its five claws sharp and powerful, its tail fin soft.

This was...

A dragon!

And a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon at that!

It seemed to lock onto its target and let out an earth-shaking roar.

"ROAR—!"

Then it shot toward Xu Mengqing like an arrow released from a bow!

Xu Mengqing's pupils contracted sharply. He had just begun to resist, but it was already too late.

The golden dragon's head slammed directly into his chest, yet strangely, he suffered no harm at all.

The golden dragon had no physical body. The instant it struck him,

it burrowed into his body like mud sinking into the sea. Then it exploded in his mind, transforming into mysterious symbols that were deeply imprinted in the depths of his consciousness.

At the same time, an intense stabbing pain surged from his brain. His head felt like an inflated balloon, as though it would burst the next second.

What the hell~

Are you messing with me?